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Framingham approves municipal aggregation plan; program to launch in March with opt-out enrollment
Summary
The council heard a presentation on Framingham Community Electricity, a municipal aggregation that will automatically enroll Eversource basic-service customers into a 35% renewable standard option unless they opt out; the city provided program rates, opt-out dates and outreach plans.
City sustainability staff and a consultant presented the Framingham Community Electricity municipal aggregation plan and key program dates and rates, telling the council the program will begin in March and will automatically enroll eligible Eversource basic-service customers unless they opt out.
Sean Hunt, the city's sustainability coordinator, said the Department of Public Utilities approved the city's aggregation plan in September and the program supplier will be First Point Power. Hunt said three supply options will be available: Framingham Standard Green (12.818¢ per kilowatt-hour; 35% renewable, automatic enrollment), Framingham Green Plus (15.418¢/kWh; 100% New England renewables; opt-up) and Framingham Basic (12.588¢/kWh; minimum required renewables; opt-down). Hunt said prices are fixed through March 2027 for the contract term and that customers can opt out starting Jan. 24, with a final opt-out deadline of Feb. 26 before the first billing cycles roll into the March launch.
Hunt and Marlena Patton, vice president at Mass Power Choice, said Eversource will remain the delivery utility and that participating customers will continue to receive a single Eversource bill showing the new supplier as "First Point — Framingham Community Electricity." They also said that customers with private supply contracts or placed blocks on their accounts will not be automatically enrolled, and that community-solar credits and solar-net-metering are unaffected by participation.
Councilors asked how future contracts will be procured and flagged the opt-out structure as something to monitor when the first two-year contract ends. Councilor Buchanan said the opt-out design worries her because private suppliers sometimes take advantage of consumers; Hunt said procurements are competitive and that regulatory requirements force public notification before new prices take effect. Councilor Ward and others praised the program as a way to offer cleaner power at competitive prices and asked staff to expand multilingual outreach and community sessions. Staff outlined several public information sessions, including Spanish and Portuguese sessions and drop-in office hours before the opt-out deadline.
City staff said mailers and online tools (a cost-comparison calculator and sample bill examples) will be distributed and urged residents to look for the city seal on official materials.
